sloan



NOV. 3, 1936. E, s SLQAN 2,059,538

HYDROSTATIC SAND PUMP Filed 061;. 23, 1934 n n s x 1 l I l l 1 1 l 1 I1 as INVENTOR l-Zyan 6. loaz,

' WITNESSESY ATTORNEYS patented Nov. 3, i936 Zydtytld stares garant eprice fllllldd mm'lld'lll@ @ANB PlUll/lr" lblgan S. Sloan, Shippentille, Pa.

Application @ctober 23, lsdd, Seriali lilo., 249.6%

(Gl. MiG- 119) l2 Glalms.

This invention relates to well cleaning apparatus, and its objects are as follows:-

l'irst, to provide a pump or bailer which, without having to agitato the solid material at the g vbottom oi the well, is capable of taking up a load oli said material, the operating force for doing so being supplied by the difference in pressure between the inside of the pump and the hydrostatic head or the liquid outside of the pump.

Second, to provide a floating valve which is periectly free of all connection of any sort within the load chamber excepting when locked in position by means of its detents during the lowering of the pump in the well.

rlhird, to release the oating valve from its locked position by a telescopic action against its detents when the pump strikes the bottom of the shot hole or other .more or less solid obstruction at the bottom of the well.

Fourth, to combine a fish-mouth valve with the lower section of the pump for the reason that this type of valve aords practically a one-hundreol percent opening and is well adapted for supporting the load in the load chamber.

lin the drawing:-

Figure l is a vertical section of the pump, illustrating the set position which the floating valve assumes while the pump is being lowered to the bottom oi the well.

Figure 2 is a similar sectional View illustrating the change in position of the parts after the pump has struck the bottom and has been raised somewhat.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional View of parts 35 illustrated in Figure l.

Figure d isa cross section taken on the line lll-4l of Figure 3.

ln the drawing, l designates a well casing which terminates in a shot hole 2 at the bottom 4o oi the well bore, and contains an indenite amount of sand t (or other debris), together with a column t of water oiuncertain height. llt is the tremendous downward pressure of the column of water upon the sand that forces the d5 sand into the pump when the temporary anchorage oi a boating valve is suddenly tripped so as to release the valve to form a free and unimpeded opening and move upwardly into the load chamber ahead of the ascending column of sand.

The pump has a clevis 5 at the top to which a wire line (not shown) is secured. It is by means of the wire line that the pump is lowered and raised'into and out of the well. This clevis has a screw plug 6 which makes a complete closure lill .55 with the exception of a small vent 1. The vent is for the purpose of slowly permitting the discharge of compressed air above the load. As the sand column enters. after the tripping oi the valve, it compresses the air ahead of it and it is this air which is slowly released by the vent ll. 5

The clevis b is part of a closure t which is made integral with the upper end of a tube t herein known as the load chamber. lt is into this chamber that the sand is forced under hydrostatic pressure when the uid valve is tripped as stated. The tube t is approximately twenty feet long, although it is readily understood that it may be of greater or less length. At the bottom. it has an internal constriction lll providing a heavy rim ll which is square threaded at l2 on the outside.

The so-called oating valve i3 is tted tightly in the constriction it. This Valve does not float in the sense of its being buoyant, the term merely being used to convey the idea of its being perfectly free to rise in the load chamber to any necessary altitude without the impediment of a. cage, guides, etc., such as usually characterize valves employed in pumps of this type. This valve is actually a. piston (Fig. 3). It comprises 25 a hard composition cup ld of a known pattern. Plates l5, it are clamped to opposite sides of the cup by the nuts on a center bar il and on prongs or detents ld. These elements go through the plates and composition cup as plainly shown, but the means by which the parts are clamped together so that the center bar and prongs are made absolutely rigid with the oating valve is y not necessarily confined to the nuts shown.

Outward bends i9 in the prongs lt dispose the detent heads 2d in a position outwardly of the axial line of that part of the respective prong secured to the boating valve. These bends impart an outward tension to the prongs. The prongs are subject to inward flexure, and lor that A purpose the heads 20 are beveled at 2l so that a cam action can be set -up against them. The center bar l l is longer than the prongs it. Its sole purpose is to aiord the operator a hold so that he can pull the Boating valve li'out of the tube 9 after the load has been discharged.

The previously referred to lower section of the pump includes two tubular parts 22, 23. rllhese parts are telescopically fitted together. The part 23 is capable of a short sliding motion with respect, to the part 22, whereupon the part 23 becomes an abutment. This motion releases the floating Valve i3. The part 22 has an enlarged coupling end 24 with internal square threads 25 which are screwed upon the threads l2. It is here that the 55 lower section is disconnected from the load chamber 3 upon desiring to dump the load.

The diameter of the constriction III continues without change through the tubular part 22 and ends at a bottom shoulder 28. This is an annular stop shoulder, and it is against this shoulder that the detent heads 28 are caught, constituting interlocking means, and held by the outward tension of the detents I8 when the iloating valve is in the set position (Figs. 1 and 3). Immediately above the shoulder 26 and on the outside of the part 22 there is a square thread 21 which screws into a similar thread 28 inside of the part 23 at the top when originally assembling the pa 22, 23.

As these parts are thus assembled a key 29 (Figs. 3 and 4) is slipped into a recess 30 in the part 23. The recess is formed by cutting a part of the threads 28 away. 'I'he recess extends throughout the depth of the threads 28. The key 29 is secured to the part 22 by rivets 3|, 32. The iirst of these can be set by separating the tubular parts 22, 23 as shown in Figure 3. But the second rivet has to be set through a hole 33 (Fig. 4) in the part 23 because it is in a position where its outer end would be hidden and inaccessible between the two parts were it not for the hole 33.

The key 29 is intended to remain in place when once riveted as described. It prevents relative turning between the parts 22, 23. But these parts are capable of relative sliding for the purpose of tripping the floating valve as already brought out.

An internal annulus 34 in the tubular part 23 provides a cam shoulder which acts against the bevels 2| with a cam action when the part 23 closes upon the part 22. The internal diameter oi' this annulus is the same as that of the constriction III and the bore of the part 22. An enlargement 35 of the bore of the part 23 below the annulus 34 provides a cylindrical pocket for'what has been called a fish-mouth valve.

This valve consists of two wings 36 which when closed (Fig. 2) form a circle at the bottom but gradually taper to more or less of a shovel-point. When viewed in side elevation, these wings strongly suggest the appearance of a fish-mouth, hence the foregoing name.

Each wing has a hole 31 by means of which the respective wing is loosely attached to a heavy staple 38. The prongs of the staple are welded or otherwise secured to the tubular part 23. The wings 36 are capable of free opening and closing movements, and when closed (Fig. 2) serve to retain the load which, according to the illustration herein used, consists of sand. When the Wings 36 lie back in the open position (Fig. l) they are contained by the cylindrical pocket 35. The internal diameter of the wings is substantially continuous with the bore of the annulus 34. There is but little interruption in the bore, hence the sh-mouth valve affords practically a onehundred percent opening.

Immediately below the staple 38 the tubular part 23 has registering cross holes 39. 'I'hese are intended to receive a bar by which the lower section is unscrewed at I2, 25 from the load chamber 9. At that time the load chamber will be suspended in the air at a convenient height, and will be held from turning with a tongs. 'Ihe purpose of unscrewing the lower section is to discharge the load.

The operation is readily understood. When the pump is suspended by the wire line (not shown) and in being lowered into the well the for that reason the wings 38 of the nah-mouth valve are folded back into the cylindrical pocket 35. The detent heads 20 are caught under the stop shoulder 26 thus holding the valve I3 absolutely tight.

In lowering the pump through the water there will be a steady increase oi' upward pressure on the underside oi' the valve I3 due to the increasing hydrostatic head on the outside of the pump. This pressure increases as lowering continues, and at times will approximate two hundred pounds to the square inch, the actual pressure depending upon the depth of the water column 4.

When the lower rim of the tubular part 23 strikes bottom said part is naturally stopped, whereupon it becomes an abutment respecting which the whole super-structure from the tubular part 22 upward, lowers. The resulting telescoping action causes the bevels 2| to ride against the annulus 34 with a cam action. This action displaces the detent heads 20 inwardly so that Ilsiey are not any longer held by the stop shoulder Upon thus releasing the anchorage of the valve I3 the external pressure drives the sand into the load chamber 9, forcing the valve I3 into the chamber ahead of it. From this point on the valve I3 is perfectly free in the load chamber with the exception of the support that the sand aifords it (Fig. 2). 'I'he constriction I0 presents a full opening after the valve has been forced out of it. The air above the valve I3 and the entering sand column is slowly discharged at the vent l.

The valve 36A closes upon withdrawing the pump, thus retaining the load. "I'he valve I3 rests on top of the load. The pump will be raised to a convenient height above the ground. The load chamber 9 is held with a tongs. A bar is inserted in the cross holes 39 and the lower section is unscrewed.

This dumps the load, but the iloating valve remains in the load chamber. 'I'he valve is not any impediment to the free, gravity discharge of the load since it merely follows the top surface of the load down.

From what has been stated, it is clear that the valve I3 is an in-ow control valve because it isY not until this valve becomes unseated that there is an influx of material into the load chamber. 'I'he so-called fish-mouth valve 36 then becomes an out-now control valve because this valve closes to retain the load after the latter has been taken in. 'I'his valve remains fully open during the inux of the load.

It is also apparent that the load chamber is collapsible in part. 'Ihe term collapse is not to be construed in the sense of a failure of any sort, but in the sense of the lower section being telescopic or closeable upon itself. 'I'he lower section "is part of the load chamber because when the inflow control valve I3 is once released and takes its floating position somewhere near the top oi' the load chamber (Fig. 2), the load extends all the way down to the out-flow control valve 36 which, as already stated, is then closed.

In order to remove the valve the operator grasps the center bar I1 which will protrude below the heavy rim I I. 'I'he valve is merely pulled through the constriction I Il. To reassemble thc pump, the valve I3 is stood upon a convenient support with the bar II and detents I8 projecting upwardly. 'I'he lower section is taken in inverted position and :forced down over these up wardly projecting elements until the detent heads 20 lock at 28. Thelower section, with the inserted floating valve, is then turned back to its right position and screwed upon the threads I2.

The valve i3 is driven home into the constriction I0 as screwing proceeds. The pump is then ready for the next operation.

I claim:-

1. A pump comprising a load chamber, a valve which is diametrically smaller than the bore of the load chamber hence perfectly loose with respect thereto so that it can iloat within said chamber and enable a gravity discharge of the load, and releasable means by which to initially hold said valve in a closing position with respect to the entrance to said chamber.

2. A pump comprising an internally unobstructed load chamber having a constricted entrance, a valve which is perfectly loose with respect to the load chamber so that it can iioat within said chamber and enable a gravity discharge of the load, detent means and a resilient support therefor carried by the valve, a shoulder with which the detent means is engaged bythe resilience of the support to initially hold said valve in a closing position in the constricted entrance to said chamber, and releasing means to displace the detent means from the shoulder thus freeing the valve for unrestrained motion from said entrance to any altitude within said chamber.

3. A pump comprising a loadchamber, a constriction in the entrance of the load chamber, the bore of the load chamber being diametrically larger than the constriction and internally unobstructed from the constriction to its top, a. valve which can be jammed tightly in the constriction so as to close said entrance, detent means to hold the valve in the closing position, and releasing means to displace the detent means vso as to free the valve for a loose unimpeded ascent to any altitude within the load chamber.

4.A A pump comprising a load chamber, a constriction in the entrance to the chamber, said constriction being the only diminution to the inside diameter of the chamber, a valve which can be jammed to a-tightclosing position within the constriction and does not have any other connecudn with the ioaalchamber, detent means to hold the valve in the closing position against movement inwardly of the chamber, and release means to free the detent means so that the valve can ascend to any altitude within the chamber by force of Pressure.

v 5. A pump comprising a load chamber to be lowered through a water column in a well, a

carried tubular part carried by the load chamber and respecting which part the load chamber makes relative movement when said part is interlocking means carried by the chamber and `closing to retain the load.

valve holding the valve closed, and means constituting an abutment respecting which the load chamber has relative motion to disconnect the interlocking means and free the valve.

'1. A pump comprising a load chamber and a constriction in its entrance, a part connected to the load chamber extending from the chamber beyond the end of the vconstriction providing a stop shoulder, a valve tightly fitting the constriction and having detent means catching under the stop shoulder to lock the valve against inward movement, and a second part telescopically carried by the first-named part having a shoulder to displace the detent means inwardly upon the occurrence of telescopic action, thereby to unlock the valve.

8. A pump comprising a load chamber, a valve to tightly close the entrance to said chamber, detent means carried by the valve and having an outward tension, a part extending from the chamber providing a stop lshoulder with which the detent means interlocks by virtue of said tension, and means constituting an abutment with respect to which the load chamber and detent means have relative movement thereby to overcome the tension of the detent means and displace'it from said stop 'shoulder to free the valve.

9. Apump comprising a load chamber, a valve tightly closing the entrance to said chamber, detent means carried by the valve including prongs havingheads with bevels, said prongs being under outward tension, a part extending from the load chamber providing a stop shoulder with which the heads are engaged by virtue of the prong tension, another parttelescopically carried by the firstnamed part,.and a cam shoulder in saidother part, engageable by the bevels to displace the heads inwardly against the tension of the prongs to free thek valve.

10. A pump comprising aload chamber, a valve to tightly close the entrance to said chamber, detent means toilock the valve in the closing position, a tubular part having means to release the detent means when said chamber is moved relatively to said tubular part, said tubular part having a cylindrical pocket, and a fish-mouth valve to retain the contents of the load chamber, consisting ofwings and means by which they arel pivotally carried by said part, said wings being swingable'into the cylindrical pocket when taking on a load.

11. A floating valve comprising a piston head.l la plurality of prongs rigidly carried by the head and having an outward tension, each prong having a beveled detent head, and a bar also rigidly carried by the head and extending past the detent heads into a position for'grasping.

l2. A pump comprising a load chamber which has a collapsible part, an in-flow control valve, anchorage means by which said valve is held in a closed position prior to the collapse of said part but which is released to free the valve by the collapse of said part, and an out-ilow control valve which remains open during the inux of the load following the collapse of said part and freeing of g5 the valve, said out-'ow control valve ultimately Enom s. sLoAN.' 

